By way of The happiness of Ogonna Oforjamah
February 11, 2024 | 12:37 pm
Lent for Catholic believers begins on Ash Wednesday and it is a crucial ritual through which the believer wears ashes on his or her brow. This symbolizes the mud from which God made man. That is additional emphasised when the priest says to the particular person as he applies the ashes, “Keep in mind that you…
Lent for Catholic believers begins on Ash Wednesday and it is a crucial ritual through which the believer wears ashes on his or her brow.
This symbolizes the mud from which God made man. That is additional emphasised when the priest says to the particular person as he applies the ashes, “Keep in mind that you’re mud, and to mud you’ll return.” Alternatively, the priest could say the phrases, “Repent and imagine within the Gospel.”
This holy day shouldn’t be solely celebrated by the Catholic denomination but additionally by different Western Christian denominations and even non-Christians. “I'm not Catholic, however Ash Wednesday jogs my memory of who I’m and what I’m, and the place I am going after loss of life. I put on the Ash yearly,” mentioned one woman.
Throughout today, Christians determine to surrender a behavior or pleasure equivalent to smoking, alcohol, consuming their favourite meals, immorality or getting indignant, amongst different vices which are believed to corrode the soul.
One other holy day chosen by non-Catholics and now broadly celebrated is Valentine's Day. The feast of Saint Valentine is widely known on February 14 within the Catholic Church. Based on historical past, it’s believed that he secretly carried out Christian weddings in opposition to the orders of the pagan Roman emperor, and so Valentine's Day got here to be related to romantic love.
The feast of Saint Valentine turned so well-liked that he’s thought-about the saint of affection and his feast day is reserved to have fun love in all its varieties. At the present time celebrates romantic love, friendship and admiration. Lovers categorical their love for one another by shopping for items, having candlelight dinners, amongst different actions that categorical love and in an environment that evokes the sensation they lengthy for: love.
Maria Ashley who attends Our Girl of the Holy Rosary in Lagos mentioned grace is required to know the essence of each days. “It's complicated as a result of Ash Wednesday tells me that self-importance upon self-importance is all self-importance and that in spite of everything I’ll return to mud, which suggests I’m nothing, solely my soul issues. However Valentine says, let's have fun love, you realize, by following the 2 best commandments: love God and love your neighbor, however due to human shortcomings, we are inclined to have fun love within the unsuitable means.
Stanley Chibueze, a parishioner of St. Charles Lwanga, Abuja, mentioned he’s at a crossroads on what to do this day. “I like Jesus and I like my girlfriend, however that day you simply ask a dangerous query. Who do you’re keen on extra? I don't know what that day might be like, however I plan to go to church within the morning for the ashes after which have fun my day with my girlfriend. I’ll attempt to keep away from meat or animal skins…'
For Enoch Olarenwaju, a parishioner of St. Joseph Cathedral, Ilorin, the day is only a coincidence by nature and can be partying and celebrating love. “Ash Wednesday is a day of remembrance. Simply because we return to mud doesn’t imply that we can not benefit from the created issues that God has given us.
Olarenwaju, nevertheless, mentioned the day of conflict requires some type of sacrifice, particularly for many who are Valentine aware. “This 12 months I can’t go to the membership, as a result of there is no such thing as a level in going to church within the morning for ashes, going to a clubhouse within the night and persevering with the Lenten temper the following day. I’ll get together very effectively within the morning, eat, be cheerful and revel in my day with my spouse. When night falls, I’ll obtain the ashes and enter right into a penitential temper for the rest of Lent.”
Alberta Obiekezie, a parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, mentioned she by no means had any particular emotions about Valentine's Day till then. “I perceive that the day celebrates love, however I grew up in an setting that sees Valentine's Day because the precise celebration of the saint and it’s a regular day and by no means an exaggerated day for lovers in a relationship. I like Ash Wednesday a lot and can all the time be in church that day”
Based on Kenneth Alozie, a worshiper at St. Matthew's Anglican Church, Abuja, “Ash Wednesday is definitely an much more vital customized in my life than the celebration of a saint that folks use as an excuse for immorality. The Lord has given us an exception this 12 months to be with him in love in church and never within the membership.”
Rev. Father Patrick Akaigwe, a parish priest from Nnewi Diocese of Anambra State, mentioned Ash Wednesday begins the 40-day journey of Christians in commemoration of Christ's struggling for humanity in love and out of affection and that this 12 months's Ash Wednesday fortunately coincides with the world annual Valentine's Day, the world well-known day of affection celebration.
There’s a nice connection between the love of Christ, which is summed up within the struggling of Christ, and Valentine's Day. If I like you and I can not endure for you, is that love? Can we endure for those we love, as Christ did? This 12 months on Valentine's Day, allow us to resolve to like Christ selflessly.”
Rev. Father Ndubueze Ifeakor, a Nigerian priest primarily based in Rome, additionally mentioned there can be no query of a balancer as it’s an compulsory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. And nobody is launched from this obligation besides those that are canonically launched by regulation.
“It is determined by what you have fun. If you happen to have fun 'lust' you’ve got an issue with the Ash Wednesday conflict, however in case you have fun real love you wouldn't thoughts since you can be fulfilling the last word commandment. 'Like to neighbor and Like to God' and these two expressions of affection aren’t devoid of God. In keeping with expressions of affection; Why don't we do a charity occasion for another person? Why don't we do penance for one another as an indication of our love?”
Benita Shayo, a participant on the Methodist Church in Ibadan, mentioned when this conflict occurs, it’s often a tough choice for her. “On Valentine's Day I am going in all places that’s enjoyable. That's the one day I may transfer my physique. I can go to a membership, picnic, assembly place, however this 12 months I can't due to Ash Wednesday. I’d go to an orphanage and have fun for that function.”
Based on Peter Inojie, a Catholic and social commentator, individuals would nonetheless have fun Ash Wednesday regardless that it clashes with Valentine's Day. “Nicely, from my statement, even when it’s a coincidence, this won’t scale back individuals's observance of Ash Wednesday, as a result of there’s a nice enthusiasm to begin Lent with Ashes 12 months after 12 months, which surprises me. For me, I’ll observe today of obligation.”
